For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 24, 2003

Statement on Federal Assistance for West Virginia
Statement by the Press Secretary

The President yesterday declared a major disaster exists in the State
of West Virginia and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local
recovery efforts in the area struck by Hurricane Isabel on September
18, 2003, and continuing.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local
governments in Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral,
Morgan, Pendleton, Randolph, and Tucker Counties on a cost-sharing
basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures under the
Public Assistance program at 75 percent Federal funding.